It's been less than three months since Peugeot->ke68 unveiled the facelifted version of the current 2008 crossover, and it appears that the French firm is already testing a next-generation version. That's the word from our paparazzi, who claim that the test mule in the images above is the second-generation 2008.->ke3960

Although it looks nothing like a Peugeot and its nearly identical to the upcoming Opel Meriva that's already been spotted testing in Europe, the different front end makes us believe that this could be next 2008. And the reason for that is simple. With GM->ke1024 and PSA having already worked together to develop successors to the Opel Meriva->ke1094 and Citroen C3 Picasso, it makes a lot of sense that the other brand from the PSA Group, Peugeot, to benefit from the new platform.

Both the new Meriva and C3 Picasso will ditch their minivan->ke1149 roots in favor of a more SUV-like approach, which Peugeot already did with the 3008 and likely wants the next-generation 2008 to follow a similar path. The camouflage is obviously too heavy to spot the essential details, but with the Opel and the Citroen prototypes sharing the same body panels except the front fascia, it's likely that the 2008 will have a similar design and stand out by means of Peugeot's newly redesigned grille and bold bumper seen on the larger 3008.->ke3041

The only confusing detail here is the surprisingly low ride height, which wouldn't make sense for a crossover in this category. This could change as the model gets closer to its launch date and the camouflage becomes thinner to let more details hit the surface. Speaking of the vehicle's launch date, there's no official timetable as to when that may happen, but the redesigned 2008 could break cover in 2017 and go on sale for the 2018 model year in Europe.

Continue reading for the full story.

Why it matters

Granted, we don't know much about this test mule and the fact that official information is not available complicates things even further. However, based on previous collaborations within the PSA Group, the prototype in the images should be Peugeot's alternative to the new Citroen C3 Picasso, of which we already know it will share most components with the Opel Meriva. If this proves to be the case, the next-generation 2008 should be a significant departure compared to the current model and feature a wide array of new features in the safety and technology department. While its styling won't be as bold as the new 3008's, the cabin should include the updated i-Cockpit and all the fancy features that make the second-generation 3008 an appealing crossover that has what it takes to give the popular Nissan Qashqai a run for its money. Naturally, the fact that the new 2008 will share components with the Opel Meriva and Citroen C3 Picasso will also save Peugeot a lot of money. Since the PSA Group is doing great financially, this is good news for the French alliance.

2017 Peugeot 2008

Read our full review on the 2017 Peugeot 2008 here.